The skillful right-winger became the first signing of 2007 when he joined the club from Sheffield United for a fee of £750,000 in early January. Palace beat off competition from a number of clubs to secure his signature on a two and a half year contract.

Blades boss Neil Warnock had offered Paul the chance to stay at Bramall Lane, but after finding himself sacrificed from the team due to a change in formation which didn't cater for wingers, he had no hesitation in moving to Selhurst Park to get his career back on track.

Despite being born and raised in Brighton, Ifill is no stranger to south-east London, having started his career with Millwall after being spotted playing for a local college team and offered a trial at the New Den. He impressed during that spell and the Lions decided to take him on and it proved to be a good decision indeed as he went on to make over 250 appearances, help them to promotion and star in their run to the FA Cup Final in 2004.

That form brought him to the attention of several clubs and a fee of £600,000 was enough for him make the move north to Bramall Lane in May of 2005. He went on to play a major role in the Blades' promotion to the Premiership in the 2005/06 season, scoring nine goals along the way including one against the Eagles at Selhurst Park.

He made his Palace debut as a substitute in the 4-2 win over Coventry City at the Ricoh Arena and showed exactly why Taylor had signed him with some impressive early displays. His first goal for the club arrived in a 2-0 win over Ipswich Town at Selhurst Park and he followed that up with the winner over Southend United before a niggling calf injury stunted his appearances.

After battling his way back to fitness, he finished the 2006/07 season in the Palace team. The following term has been frustrating for Paul, with hamstring and thigh problems keeping him out of the side.

Also, despite winning England caps at youth level, Paul plays international football for Barbados due to parental nationality and he was a key man who played in the Caribbean Islands' World Cup qualifier in June 2004 against St Kitts & Nevis. At the end of 2006, Paul was recalled to the squad for three Caribbean Nations Cup 2007 Group B fixtures and he went on to score a hat-trick as Barbados beat Anguilla 7-1.